Mall could get gym with pool at former Sears site

A gym could open next year in the space at Orlando Fashion Square mall originally slated for an Orchard Supply Hardware store.

EoS Fitness expects to open a 44,000-square-foot facility at the intersection of Colonial Drive and Maguire Boulevard, the company’s website states. A lease brochure from SRS Real Estate partners shows the gym going into the space adjacent to Floor and Decor.

The Sears anchor store at the mall was torn down and spaces for Floor and Decor and Orchard Supply Hardware were built, but Lowe’s Companies closed all of its Orchard Supply stores in 2018 before the one at Fashion Square opened.

The EoS Fitness is expected to have group fitness and cycling classes and include a basketball court, indoor pool, hot tub, separate saunas for men and women, and a “MOVEo S Cinema” cardio room featuring a big screen and surround sound for entertainment.

A 62,000-square-foot gym is also expected to open this year at Hiawassee and Clarcona Roads near Orlando, according to the company’s website.

The gym is expanding in Florida and has locations in Arizona, Nevada, California and Utah.

There is also a Planet Fitness at Fashion Square.

Separate from the former Sears property that includes the gym site and Floor and Decor, developers Chuck Whittall and Daryl Carter have acquired land underneath the mall with hopes to tear it down and replace it with an open-air center. That land deal did not include the mall’s building, owned by Bancorp.

Japanese barbecue planned near Disney: Japanese barbecue is joining the menu at Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway and Sherberth Road, not far from Walt Disney World.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ has signed a lease for its second Central Florida restaurant, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. The chain has restaurants around the country, including at 7858 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando, and a couple restaurants in Miami.

The 3,900-square-foot restaurant will be part of an about 6,300-square-foot building in Elevation Development’s Parkview retail project, said Elevation CEO Owais Khanani.

The building is expected to break ground in March and should be done in about five months.

“I would think they would open before the end of the year,” he said.

Gyu-Kaku customers cook their food over charcoal grills. Tables feature a “Smokeless Roaster” that sucks the smoke away from diners, the restaurant’s website states.

The Orlando restaurant’s menu features all-you-can-eat options, including items like New York steak, pork belly, garlic shoyu chicken thighs and spicy cabbage salad. There is also an à la carte menu featuring items from prime kalbi short rib to beef tongue.

Khanani added his company was close to signing a lease with Taco